Extension car-step.



B. E. HEREIN.

EXTENSION CAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY s, 1913.

1,109,224. Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

B. E. HEREIN.

EXTENSION GAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 0,1913.

1,109,224. Patented Sept. 1,1914.

, 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES. 1 INVENTOB 71/ fiw a. 5 0% B. E. HEREIN.

EXTENSION GAR SUBP. APPLIGATION FILED MAY 6, 191 3,

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3. I

7'Zyfl IflifE/ITOR I flww w WI :ennvin n. HEREIN, or AnLoso, OKLAHOMA.

EXTENSION CAR-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

Application filed May 6, 1913. SerialNo. 765,849.

T041255 w/iom it may concern Ye it known that I, Bnnvm E. Human, men oi the United States, residing at c, in the county of Pontotoc and State ul improvements in Extension Carof which the following is a spec1iicaby means of a suitable valve arranged within air line of the pneumatic means provided for operating or extending the step.

" A further object of the invention contem plates the provision of a compressed, air cylinder within which the operating valve is arranged the piston of the cylinder being connected to the extension step for operating or ending the ame a" .ording to the air press e directed upon the piston.

A still further ohject of the invention resides in the provision of suitable pawl and ratchet mechanism arranged exteriorly of the permanent ear steps whereby operation I of the extension step may be accomplished without utilizingrthe pneumatic means provided therefor.

The invention still. further resides in the provision of a novel and peculiar collapsible extension step wherein the step proper or tread is pivotally supported by the riser and is adapted to fold thereupon when not in extended position, the movement or operation of the tread being controlled by the movement of the cylinder piston.

The above and additional objects are accomplished bv such means as are illustrated in their preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings described in the following specitication and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

In describing my invention in detail ref erence will be had to the ahcompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like nlahoma, have invented certain new and or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure l is a detail side elevation of an extension car step constructed in accordance with my invention, the car platform being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the car step extended. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 looking atv the reverse side. of the step; Fig. 4 is a detail perspec tive view of the extension step; Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the compressed air cylinder; Fig. 6 is a similar View, the scctionbeing taken in a transverse direction to that of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of the pawl and ratchet mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferred form of my invention the numeral 1 designates the platform of a railwaypassenger coach having the usual permanent car steps 2 depending therefrom.

The extension step designated in its entirety by the numeral 3, comprises a riser 4 pivotally connected as at 5 near the lower forward extremity of the permanent car steps 2, and a tread 6 hingedly or pivotally connected to the riser 4: through the medium of a pin 7, the latter extending throughout the length of the tread for effecting a strong and reliable supporttherefor. The edges of the step 6 are provided with curved extensions or flanges 8 adapted to encircle a suitable supporting rod 9 extending therethrough, the extremities of the said rod being pivotally connected to links 10, the said links being in turn pivotally connected as at 11 to the sides of the permanent car steps 2. By this arrangement it will be seen that the tread 6 is supported in the'desired'manner and upon the sameplane as the permanent steps 2 at all times as the supporting rod 9 by reason of its pivotal connection to the links is so formed as to extend approximately parallel with the car steps 2.

Having described the construction of the car step, and the manner in which the same is supported, the means employed for operating the said step will now be described in detail.

A compressed air cylinder 12 is secured to the u'nderface of the car platform .1 anti is disposed at an angle thereto the upper ex- .tremity of the cylinder having anair pipe 13 threaded into an extension 14: of thg'cylinder. An air passage-Way 15 is provided in the upper portion of the air cylinder 12, the said passage way 15 leading from the air inlet pipe 13 to the interior of the cylinder roper for admitting air under pressure t ereinto. A piston 16 is disposed within the cylinder 12, the said piston having a piston rod 17 extending therefrom,

its opposite end being connected to the hinge-rod 7 of the extension step 3, the said piston rod extending through an opening 18 formed within the riser 1 of the ex tension step. The air supply pipe 13 being connected to the air brake line of the railway coach upon which the device is applied, it Will be seen that air under pressure may be admitted to the cylinder 12 where it is directed against the inner face of the piston 16 causing the said piston to slide within the cylinder thereby extending the step 3 to which the piston rod is loosely connected, the link 10, and the engagement between theriser 4c and the permanent step 2 limit ing the forward or outward movement of the said piston rod and extension step.

The means employed for controlling the air supply of the compressed air cylinder comprises a rotary valve 19 having a passage way or duct 20 formed therein. The said duct 20 normally extends in a transverse direction to, the passage way 15 of the cylinder so as to cut 011 the air supply thereto, but the rotation of the valve, until the duct 20 registers with the passage way 15, will effect a continuous air passage from the supply pipe 13 to the interior of the cylinder 12 thereby permitting the'piston 16 to be operated or actuated as above described. The said valve 19 extends upon the exterior of the cylinder and is supplied with a segmental ack 21 into which a pinion 22 meshes, the said inion being arranged upon the extremity oi a vertically extending rod 23 supported by the platform 1 and projecting upwardly therefrom at a convenient point. By turning the rod 23, similar move ment is imparted to the pinion 22 which in turn rotatesthe valve 19 and causes the air su ply of the air brake line to enter the cylinder by reason of the'duct 20 formed within the said valve. A second valve operating rod 24 is slidably mounted upon the permanent car step side 2 and is connected at its inner extremity to alink 25 formed upon the extended portion of the said valve, this arrangement permitting the said valve to be operated from the ground as well as the car platform.

The manner in which the car step 3 is extended havingbeen described, it now remains to set forth the means provided for a stationary support to which one end of a.

spring 27 is secured, the opposite end of the said spring being secured to a tongue 28 formed integrally with the tread 6 of the extension step. An outlet opening 29 is formed within the rotary valve 21 at the lower end thereof, the said opening adapted to normally register with the passage way 15 of the cylinder thus permitting the compressed air contained therein to be exhausted, when'the said valve is turned or rotated until the said opening registers with the passage way as is clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. After having operated the valve as just described, it will be seen that the tension of the spring 27 will cause the piston rod 17 and the piston 16 to move upwardly and into the cylinder 12 forcing the compressed air out through the opening 29 of the said valve, which movement of the piston rod will cause the extension step 3 to collapse or fold and will bring the tread 6 into engagement with the riser 4 of the said step, the latter being swung upon its according to the movement of the handlever 30, the said. drum having a chain 3 1 secured thereto, the opposite end of the chain being connected to the piston 16 and extend ing into the cylinder 12 from its lower open end. The operation of the hand lever 30 will cause the said drum to rotate thereby winding the chain 30 thereupon, this action causing the piston 16 to be moved within the cylinder similar to the movement imparted thereto by the means above describ d. One end of the drum having-a ratchet wheel 35 secured thereto, and the lever 30 having a pawl 36 pivoted thereto adapted to engage the said ratchet, it will be seen that sufticient rotation of the drum is allowed for winding the chain fiat thereupon, the spring pressed pivoted pawl 37 engaging the ratchet wheel 35 and preventing the said wheel and the drum for unwinding during the operat-ion of the hand lever 30. The car stop being extended by the op eration of the lever 30, the disengagement of the pawl 37 and the ratchet wheel35 will allow the drum to unwind thus permitting the spring 27 to collapse or fold the extension step 3 and return the piston to its normal position illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.

it will be seen from the above, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings that three means have been provided for operating theextensi'on step; that the rotary valve is actuated from either the car platform or the ground; and that in the absence of pneumatic pressure, the car step may be extended by the manipulation of the hand lever 30.

In reduction to practice, I have found thatthe form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most efficient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, l". desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in the details of construction,- proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sac.- riiicing. any of the advantages of my invention, as defined inthe appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1- 1. In combination with an extensible car step, a compressed air cylinder. a piston operable within said cylinder and having connection with said step, a valve for controlling air suppiythereto, means for actusting said valve from the car platform, means for actuating said valve from the station platform, and means having connection with said piston for actuating said step independent ofthe pneumaticrneans, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with an extensible car step, pneumatic means including a compressed cylinder, a piston operablewithin said cylinder, said piston having connection with the'said step, a valve for controlling the air supply thereto, a segmental rack secured to said valve adapted to be actuated from the car platform, a link con nected to said valve adapted to be actuated from the station platform, and spring means for returning said step to its normal folded position when the air pressure Within the cylinder is relieved, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with an extensible car step, an operating rod connected thereto, movable support means therefor, and pawl and ratchet mechanism connected to said operating rod for actuating said step, as and for the purpose set forth.

i In combination with an extensible car step, a compressed air cylinder, a piston operable Within'said cylinder and having connection with said step, a rotary valve operable adjacent said cylinder for controlling the air supplied thereto, means for actuating said valve from the car platform, means for actuating said valve from the station platform, and means including suit p able awl and ratchet mechanism havln v I i b connection with said piston for actuating the same independent of the pneumatic means, as and forthe purpose set forth.

5. In combination with an extensible car step, an operating rod therefor, support means for the said step, means for normally maintaining said step in folded position,

and means including suitable pawl and ratchet mechanism having connection with said operating rod for actuating the same to extend the step, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. An extension car step including a collapsible step' arranged atthe base of the permanent car step, a compressed air cylinder arranged adjacent the said collapsible step, a piston operated Within the said cylinder and connectedto the said collapsible step for extending the latter by the air pressure directedupon the said piston, a rotary valve disposed adjacent the said cylinder for controlling the air pressure thereof, a segmental rack carried by the said rotary'valve upontheexterior of the said cylinder, and

a handlever having a pinion mount-ed thereupon adapted to. engage with the segmental rack: fox-rotating the valve from the car platform, as and for the purpose set forth.

7 An extension car step including a colinder by the compressed air directed there- 10o upon, the said piston being connected to the said collapsible step for extendin the latter according to the movement 0 the said piston, a rotary valve disposed adjacent the said cylinder for controlling the air pressure thereof, a segmental rack carried by the said rotary valve and disposed upon the exterior of the cylinder, the operating rod having a pinion secured upon one end thereof -meshing into the said segmental rack for operating the valve from the car platform, and means including a spring one end of which is secured to the said extension step for returning the latter into folded set forth.

8. In combination with a collapsible extension car step, a compressed air cylinder -arranged adjacent thereto, a rotary valve disposed adjacent the said cylinder for con trolling the air pressure thereof, a piston op erated within the said cylinder and connected to the said step for extending the latter by the air pressure directed u on the said piston, means for operating t c said valve from the car platform and means includin a hand lever connected to thesaid valve or operating the same independently of the platform operating means.

9. In combination with a collapsible exposition, as and for the purpose 115 operated within-the said cylinder an 'nected to the said: collapsible step for ex--: tending'the latter by the air pressurezdi vrected nponi the said piston, a spring-seste tension bar-step, acompressed' air cylinder, arranged-adjacent thereto, a .rotarywvalveq .diSPQSfid adjacent the said cylinder for controlling the vair pressure thereof, a

con-

cured to the said extension step for returningthe' latter to folded position, means for operating the said rotary valvefrom the car latform, means for oper'atingthe-said valve ndependent of the platform operating means, and means for extendin the said ated adjacent the said cylinder, the said iston being connected to the said'collapsithe'car platform operating means, means for operating the said valve from the car platform, and means including pawland ratchet iston independent of the operation of the asai rotary valve. l

10. In combination With acollapsible exjtension car step, a compressed air cylinder arranged adjacent thereto,- a ,piston operswam mechanism for extending the said-collapsiblesstep independent of the operation of the 'Fsaid rotary valve.

7-11. In'combination with a collapsible extension car step, a cylinder. arranged adjacentthereto, a piston operated Within the fisaidcylinder and connected tolthe said col- ."lapsible step for extending the latter according to the movement of the said piston,

pneumaticmea ns for operating the said pis-v ton, a drum disposed adjacent the said cyl inder, means connecting the said drum to thesaid piston, a levnconnected to the said drum for rotating the same, pawl and ratchet mechanism operated by the said lever ffor controlling the rotation of the. said drum, the rotation of the said drum adapted to move the said piston for extending the said collapsible step and means including a spring connectedto. the said step for returning the same intofolded position when the said pawl and ratchet mechanism is released.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of'two witnesses.

BERVIN E. HEREIN. Witnesses: 4

F. FALTER, F. N. IIER'RIN. 

